Janice Easley weathers Mayor’s “games” to make it back to council agenda

MASON CITY – Volunteer Janice Easley is once again set to address the City Council Tuesday night about the East Park Band Shell.

The Band Shell item was added to the agenda for the August 6th meeting after being left off – some say intentionally – by Mayor Eric Bookmeyer in July.

Ms. Easley, who is 82 years old, has labored for years to not only save the Band Shell in East Park but to restore it.  Ms. Easley was not allowed to address the public about the Band Shell in July during the council’s televised meeting, being left off the council agenda by Mayor Eric Bookmeyer despite his promise to include her.

“I just wanted to tell everyone about the movies,” that were scheduled to be played at the Band Shell, she said.

Janice made it known in July that she was none too pleased with Mayor Bookmeyer‘s exclusion from the council meetings, telling him after the last council meeting that he is a “snake in the grass.”

“He told me I could only talk four times a year,” Ms. Easley said.  “Then he told me I couldn’t talk about who gave money to the Band Shell, only he could do that.  These people here are great people and I just wanted to thank them as I always do,” she said, pointing to an award she won for her decades of volunteerism.

The televised portion of city council meetings is a venue Ms. Easley had used to a great deal of success in raising awareness and dollars to further the cause she cares so deeply for.

“I probably talked too much,” Ms. Easley said, “but it got the job done.”

Janice will get her chance Tuesday night to once again update the community on one of its treasures.

Watch short video interview conducted this weekend:

httpv://youtu.be/qOfd0TqCVyc